Opposition parties to launch protests today against election delay and tax increase

• The protest campaign has been planned against ‘the government’s covert moves’ to postpone (LC) polls and introducing power tariff hike and exorbitant tax increases
• Based on the response of the government for our demands, we will launch a massive indefinite island-wide strike

By Sandun A Jayasekera  

A massive, multifaceted anti -government protest campaign is slated to be launched by almost all the political parties in the opposition led by the main opposition Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB) while an island wide trade union action by state and private sector trade unions is also planned in this week, the political parties and trade union leaders said yesterday.  

They said that the protest campaign has been planned against what they called ‘the government’s covert and cowardly moves’ to postpone Local Council (LC) polls and introducing unaffordable power tariff hike and exorbitant tax increases.  

They have decided to take legal action, trade union action and educate the global community, the international financial agencies and Sri Lanka’s donors about the alleged undemocratic and anti-people steps the government take in violation of labour rights, human rights and fundamental rights of the people.   Commissioner General of the Election Commission (EC) Saman Sri Ratnayake told Daily Mirror last morning that the EC had decided to move a motion in the Supreme Court last morning to plead with its inability to conduct the LG polls on March 9 as pledged to the Supreme Court on January 18 due to the government’s refusal to release necessary funds.  

The nominations will not be called afresh if the date of the LG polls was deferred but the ones already tendered would be used for any future election as done in 2020 whereas, the general election was postponed due to Covid 19 pandemic and already tendered nominations were used for the delayed election held in August, 2020.   

Meanwhile, the chief whip of the opposition and senior vice president of the main opposition SJB, Lakshman Kiriella said the SJB would support the EC’s motion and move the Supreme Court to protect the fundamental rights of the people.   “The final determination of our petition filed in the Supreme Court requesting to issue an order to the EC to hold LC polls in time is still pending. We expect to move the Supreme Court to take it up for inquiry along with the EC’s motion,”  Kiriella said.  

In respect of power tariff and tax increase we also carry out an island wide protest campaign against the repressive Ranil – Rajapaksa regime,  Kiriella stressed.  

Meanwhile, leader of the trade union coordinating center and Inter Company Employees Union, Wasantha Samarasinghe of the JJB said a collective of trade unions representing all University academics doctors, engineers, top bank officials and bank employees, public servants, employees of the power and energy sector (CEB and CPC), farmers and entire public sector employees would start a massive protest campaign today branded as the ‘Black Week’ to express the nation’s detest, hate and anger on what they termed the Ranil - Rajapaksa junta’s dictatorial rule.  

‘Based on the response of the government for our demands, we will launch a massive indefinite island-wide strike.  

 Executive Director of the leading election monitoring NGO, Peoples Action for Free and Fair Elections (PAFFREL) Rohana Hettiarachchi said the PAFFREL will also participate in the EC’s motion in the Supreme Court as an intervening party.   

“The government cannot say it does not have money for election as it is an essential requirement that involves a fundamental right of the people. Therefore, the government has an official and statutory obligation to give money to the EC to conduct polls,” Hettiarchchi emphasized.